SPD searching for hit-and-run suspect

Starkville Police Department is searching for Johnnie Lasster, 66, of 141 Pecan Acres, after an alleged hit-and-run occurred at the Dollar General located on Highway 182 Saturday.

A release states an aggravated assault with a vehicle warrant was issued for Lasster's arrest.

Lasster and a female were spotted by an employee after allegedly shoplifting items, the release states. Once the female subject was confronted at the store's entrance and asked to turn over the stolen items, the two exited the store and got into a maroon Buick LeSabre.

The employee attempted to record the vehicle's license plate information before the subject "had attempted to run over the Dollar General employee, striking her before speeding away," the release states.

Anyone with information regarding Lasster's location is asked to call SPD at 662-323-0393 or 662-323-4131, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151.

SPD has not released updates regarding two other investigations, including a drive-by shooting in the Henderson Hill area that occurred last week.

An arrest warrant was issued on Oct. 31 for 18-year-old Deangelo Dewayne Manning's arrest. His last known address is 406 Hancock Circle, according to a previous SPD release.

Numerous shots were fired in the area about 12:35 a.m. on Halloween. No injuries were reported, but several vehicles were damaged in the incident. It is not known how many shots were fired. SPD released no motive for the shooting.

Police are also searching for five men who took $14,000 in Apple iPads from Walmart on Oct. 30.

Surveillance footage showed five black males enter the store's electronics department and break a display case's glass with what appeared to be a hammer. Eye witness accounts were also provided to SPD, a release stated.

The suspects took 15 iPad Minis and 14 iPads from the case, stuffed them in a black duffel bag and then fled the department in different directions. SPD described the get-away vehicle as new model, charcoal gray Chevrolet Impala. The car's tag was observed hanging improperly from the vehicle, a release stated.

Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch